Man Tasered In Police Custody Dies

Man accused of beating his mother Tasered twice for combative behavior, police said

Published December 14, 2012•Updated on December 14, 2012 at 11:07 am

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A man has died after he was Tasered twice in Chicago Police custody, authorities confirmed.

Officers said 38-year-old Philip Coleman was arrested Wednesday night in the West Pullman neighborhood for allegedly beating his 69-year-old mother. Coleman became combative with officers during his arrest, police said, at one point spitting blood into the faces of an officer and a sergeant.

After battling with officers several more times, police said he struggled while being transported to court, and officers Tasered him at the Calumet Area lockup to subdue him.

Coleman was sent for treatment Thursday to Roseland Hospital where police said he became physically aggressive with hospital staff and officers. Police said in a statement that "reasonable force was employed, including a taser deployment, to gain control" of the man.

Coleman was given a sedative, police said, and later died.

Coleman's father, Percy, told reporters Friday that his son has never been in trouble, noting he received a master's degree at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

"I can guarantee you we will get to the bottom of this," Percy Coleman said.